Bank robber gets 15 year term

SoVaNow.com / May 01, 2014

A North Garden, Va. man who pled guilty in January to robbing the downtown branch of Carter Bank & Trust will serve 15 years in prison following his sentencing hearing Tuesday in Halifax.
Girald Carlos Turner Jr., 25, was given life in prison with all but 15 years suspended, on the condition of his good behavior for 50 years following his release. He also was ordered in Halifax Circuit Court to pay $5,800 restitution to the bank.

Turner previously admitted to entering Carter Bank on the morning of July 20, 2013 and presenting a note to a bank teller demanding cash from the bottom drawer. He was carrying a red bag with him at the time.

After fleeing the scene, he was later arrested in Bath County and brought back to Halifax County to face trial.

Also on Tuesday, Circuit Judge Joel Cunningham upheld a 29-year sentence for Ronald Lynn Lacks II, who in August was convicted of rape, abduction and assault and battery stemming from a June 30, 2012 incident at the home of a woman and her minor child. Lacks was a resident of Coleman Ferry Road at the time.

The 29-year active sentence matched the jury recommendation of eight years in prison for rape, 20 years for abduction with intent to defile, and 12 months in jail for the misdemeanor charge of assault and battery. The full sentence for kidnapping is 60 years, with Cunningham suspending all but 20 years.

In another lengthy sentence handed down by the court on Tuesday, Ticey Lee Thompson, 32, of Danville received 25 years of active prison time after pleading guilty to 21 child sex felonies. Thompson received a total of 120 years, with all but 25 years suspended, on six convictions of aggravated sexual battery involving children under the age of 13. He received 75 years in prison, all suspended, on 15 separate charges of production of child pornography. The crimes occurred from Jan. 1, 2006 to Oct. 7, 2010.

Thompson previously was convicted in Danville for possession of child pornography and continues to serve time in prison on those charges. Prior to being incarcerated, he was a resident of Worsham Street in Danville.